Radiator shield



April 1, 1941. BEEMAN ETAL 2,236,986

RADIATOR SHIELD Filed Aug. 51, 1958 7 Lyle Be'eman Harald JZKZOZZ INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 RADIATOR SHIELD Lyle Beeman and Harold J.

Kroll, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, to J. 'W.

Milwaukee, Wis.

Application August 31, 1938, Serial No. 227,639

Speaker Corporation,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to shields for the radiators of motor vehicles.

In automobiles of modern design, wherein the radiator is hidden behind a decorative grill spaced a substantial distance ahead of it, attempts to protect the radiator against the cold of winter and'insects of summer have consisted in the main of applying interchangeable curtains over the exposed face of the grill, onecurtain of impervious material for winter driving and another of screening for summer driving.

Such expedients have not proven entirely satisfactory, not alone' because they detract from the appearance of the automobile or because each must be replaced by the other as the seasons change, but also because they, and particularly the winter curtain, are functionally in efficient. Because of the wide spacing between the curtain and radiator, no part of the radiator is immune to contact with the cold winter blasts which invariably seep or fiow around and over the curtain and ultimately sweep over the face of and through the radiator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combined wind break and insect guard of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily installed between the radiator and decorative grill of a motor vehicle where it will be hidden from view and capable of effectively serving its purposes.

Another object is to provide a novel combination and arrangement of wind break curtain and screen insect guard for motor vehicle radiators wherein the screen serves as a protective backing or support for the curtain.

Another. object is to provide a novel wind break for motor vehicle radiators which may be readily installed between the radiator and decorative grill and conveniently adjustable to effectively protect any desired portion of the radiator against admission of cold air.

Another object is to provide a self clearing wind break for motor vehicle radiators.

Another object is to provide a self clearing combined wind break and insect guard for motor vehicle radiators.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a shield for motor vehicle radiators constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in on a somewhat larger scale.

' Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the radiator shield showing the same installed in front of the radiator.

The radiator shield selected forillustration comprises an appropriate rectangular frame composed of upper and lower bars l0 and II of light weig'htangle iron rigidly connected by vertical rods l2, which in this instance are welded to the lower bar II and attached to the upper bar l0 bynuts l3. a

In the construction shown, the rods l2 also serve as guides for a suitable curtain roll carrier or housing l4 preferably of sheet metal and of substantially semi-cylindrical form. The housing extends horizontally from rod to rod and is equipped at opposite ends with tubular guides I5 which extend vertically therethrough and which are fixed thereto preferably by welding. Each tube l5 also extends through the upper and lower legs of a U-shaped bracket I6 which is rigidly fixed thereto and to the housing [4,

each bracket constituting a support for an end of a curtain roller H.

The curtain roller [1 is supported at one end by the usual end pin l8, rotatable in one of the brackets l6, and at the other end by a pin I9, rotatable in the roller and having a flattened head engaged in a vertical slot 20 in the other of the brackets IS. A spring 20' coacts in the usual manner with the roller H and pin I9 to urge the roller to .rotate in a direction to roll the curtain 2| onto the roller. The curtain 2! extends from the roller l1 through the rear open side of the housing I and downwardly to the lower frame bar II to which it is attached by appropriate means such as hooked lugs 22 which are struck up from the bar II and penetrate the reinforced end edge of the curtain.

The housing I4 is supported and its elevation along the guide rails l2 controlled by appropriate means, such as a wire 23, which is attached to an car 24 provided on the housing midway of its length, and which may be extended through suitable tubing 25 and to a point for convenient manipulation from the driver's seat of the automobile. It will of course be understood that the wire 23 supports the housing, and consequently the roll of curtain, against the tension in the curtain 2| induced by the roller spring 20, so that by drawingin or paying out the wire 23 the housing I may be raised or lowside elevation rods 12 there is ered and the curtain 2| extended under tension over a greater or less area of the radiator face. It will also be noted that since the housing and curtain roller are closely confined by the guide no danger of objectionable rattle.

The radiator shield shown also includes an insect guard in the form of a wire screen 26 also carried by the frame. Although the screen 26 may be variously positioned, arrangement of it behind the curtain permits it to sustain or support the latter againstthe wind pressure on he front thereof and to protect it against the cutting or wearing action of the radiator fins disposed immediately behind it. In this instance the lower reinforced edge 21 of the screen 26 is at-- frame bar H by means of hooked lugs 28, to the lugs 22 above described, and the upper reinforcededge 29 thereof is supported from the upper a series of spaced springs 30 which serve to tension the screen and thereby maintain the same in a taut condition.

frame bar l0 through The screen 26 is preferably stretched closely behind the curtain 2i, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the upper longitudinal edge 3| of the housing M is preferably rearwardly extended and slightly upwardly curved to bear against the screen 26 so that it may serve as a scraper blade for cleaning the screen as the housing is moved up and down over the screen. Material thus removed from the screen, such as accumulated insects, will of course fall over and forwardly of the housing and escape below. The lower longitudinal edge 3! of the housing I4 is also preferably similarly formed to provide a scraper blade for cleaning the curtain 2| in a similar manner.

It has been found that in many automobiles the radiator shield shown can be readily installed by merely passing it over the top of the radiator 32 and down into the position indicated in Fig. 4 immediately in front of the radiator, after the motor hood has been raised. In that position the lower frame bar I I may be bolted, as indicated at 33, to the usual pan which ordinarily extends forwardly from the bottom of the radiator, and the upper bar l0 may be strapped to the radiator by an appropriate band 34 encircling the upper part of the radiator and the vertical web of bar II]. In this position the screen 26 lies closely adjacent or against the front face 35 of the radia- I tor 32, as indicated in Fig. 2, where it separates and protects the adjacent curtain .2! from wearing contact with the radiator fins.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A radiator shield for motor vehicle radiators comprising a screen positioned over the face of said radiator, a shield, a carrier for one end of said shield movable to extend said shield to cover variable portions of said screen, and a blade on said carrier contacting said screen and movable with said carrier to clear said screen of foreign material.

2. A radiator shield for motor vehicle radiators comprising a screenya curtain having one end fixed with respect to the said screen, a roller having a portion of said curtain rolled thereon, a roller carrier movable to extend said curtain to cover variable portions of said screen, said carrier including a cover for the roll portion of said curtain, said cover having trailing edges contacting said screen and the exposed portion of said curtain for cleaning said screen and said curtain of foreign material during movement of said carrier.

LYLE BEEMAN. HAROLD J. ROLL. 

